Klæbo and Diggins start new year with commanding wins at Tour de Ski

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Cross country skiing stars Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Jessie Diggins started the new year with commanding start-to-finish victories in the 20-kilometre pursuit on the fourth stage of the Tour de Ski in Toblach, Italy on Thursday.

Men's defending champion Klæbo bounced back after a disappointing performance in the 5km heat mass start the day before, when he was only 12th.

With the skiers starting based on their positions in the Tour de Ski so far, the Norwegian started with a 45-second advantage and only increased it from there.

He finished the race in 46 minutes 01.7 seconds, beating team-mate Mattis Stenshagen by 51.1 seconds. Edvin Anger of Sweden was third.

"I opened with good pace, and I felt like I had control in the last part, so really satisfied," Klæbo said.

The women's 20km pursuit wasn't much different as US star Diggins also completely dominated the race.

In a league of her own, she started the race with an advantage of almost one minute over her closest opponent before completing the course in 52:14.8 minutes.

Sweden's Moa Ilar was second, 1:35.2 minutes behind Diggins, while Teresa Stadlober of Austria took second place.

Klæbo and Diggins extended their respective leads in the overall standings and with two stages left, are the overwhelming favourites to take the title.

Klæbo is seeking a record-breaking fifth Tour de Ski overall title. He's currently tied on four titles with former Swiss great Dario Cologna. Diggins, meanwhile, is chasing a third title.

This season's Tour de Ski has only six stages instead of the usual eight to ease the workload for the athletes ahead of the Winter Olympics in Italy, which start on February 6.

The first four stages were in Toblach, while the remaining two are Saturday and Sunday in Val di Fiemme, a sprint and a 10km mass start with the gruelling Alpe Cermis final climb.

"I think it’s going to be interesting for the final two races of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme. I’m just going to give it my all and see where I stand on Sunday," Klæbo said.

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